The Carter Historic Farm gardens have proved to be plentiful and in turn, generous for supporting the Brown Bag Food Project.
Almost 5,000 pounds of food have been donated from the gardens since 2020, Alyssa Garland, historic farm interpretive assistant, reported at Tuesday’s Wood County Park District Board meeting.
The partnership between the district and the food pantry continues with the park district sponsoring its fourth annual Thanksgiving Food Drive.
Five park district locations are drop-off sites for non-perishable and shelf-stable food items through Sunday (Nov. 19), Garland said. Donation locations include:
- Carter Historic Farm, 18331 Carter Road, Bowling Green
- Wood County Museum, 13660 County Home Road, Bowling Green
- W.W. Knight Nature Preserve, 29530 White Road, Perrysburg;
- Otsego Park, 20000 W. River Road, Bowling Green
- Wood County Park District Headquarters, 18729 Mercer Road, Bowling Green.
Food items such as pasta, rice, peanut butter, and canned goods are accepted, as well as feminine hygiene products, toiletries (soap, shampoo, etc.), baby items and pet foods. All items will be delivered to the Brown Bag Food Project.
The partnership with the Brown Bag Food Project started after the historic farm had excess garden products in 2020 and no place to share them because of COVID-19, Garland explained.
“As a Great Depression-era farm, it’s not within our mission to waste anything. During the Depression, when farmers could not sell their food they would offer it to neighbors and people in need,” Garland said. In keeping with the spirit of the Depression, Carter Historic Farm shares its extra produce with the BBFP.
In 2020, the farm donated 1,300 pounds of food. The next two years totaled 1,276 pounds and in 2023, a total of 2,363 pounds were donated, bringing the total to just under 5,000 pounds.
The need is great in Wood County, Garland said. Approximately 15% of the population in Wood County experiences food insecurity, as well as a lack of consistent healthy food. “The elderly, college students and single parents are among those who need for food resources,” she said.
